Human rights of global concern

Monday

Nov 26, 2012 at 3:15 AM

President Barack Obama’s visit last week to Southeast Asia presented contrasting views of two countries criticized for government repression and human rights abuses. One — Myanmar — has made strides over the past year with democratic elections and the release of many political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who now serves in the country’s parliament. The other — Cambodia — still lacks free and fair elections, has squelched opposition to the ruling party and ignored land rights of its poor citizens by renting their land to large companies, human rights watchers say.

Obama’s visit to Myanmar (also known as Burma) was the first by a U.S. president, and in a speech at Yangon University he underscored U.S. support for the country’s dramatic reforms of the past year. The president faced criticism by some human rights groups, who said his visit was too soon — Myanmar hasn’t yet ironed out all its reforms and some political prisoners are still awaiting release. But Obama’s response, that recognizing the country’s accomplishments doesn’t diminish focus on the work that remains, was appropriate. His visit served to send a message to other countries with poor human rights records, such as North Korea, that if they’re willing to get on the long road to reform, the U.S. will be behind them.

Meanwhile, Obama reportedly offered tough words during tense talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former soldier of the brutal Khmer Rouge — a 1970s Communist regime blamed for genocide in the country. While Hun Sen called concern over Cambodia’s human rights situation exaggerated, Obama warned that continued abuses would weaken ties between the two countries.

The president’s visit, which casts renewed light on the U.S. role in Asia, is a reminder that U.S. foreign policy goes beyond dealing with unrest in the Middle East. While the attack on a consulate in Benghazi captured much of the foreign policy discussion during the campaign season and rightly called for renewed consideration about the U.S. role there, the country has also historically had a much broader role on the global stage. Using opportunities such as his Asia visit to press for improvements in human rights, Obama makes clear that the U.S. supports basic human rights for all people, even those living beyond our borders.